Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball is killing it, hitting some big targets and a bright future. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of their most recent accomplishments and what’s new:
Making it back to the NCAA Tournament
Nebraska cruised into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Husker Volleyball Tournament with a dominant sweep of Miami (25-19, 25-14, 25-18). The Huskers left little doubt about who would prevail, posting multiple dominant performances — Lexi Rodriguez absolutely wrecked things on defense, and Bergen Reilly ran the show on offense. Nebraska now hopes to ride this momentum to another national title.
Related Stories Husker Volleyball Stars Earn Honors from Big Ten
Huskers were widely honored in the Big Ten Conference awards, cementing their dynasty status:
Libero of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, her third career honor, is still a defensive stalwart.
Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly won this award for the second consecutive year after finishing the season at the top of the league in assists.
All-Big Ten First Team: Lexi Rodriguez, Bergen Reilly, Harper Murray, Merritt Beason, Andi Jackson, Nebraska
Sportsmanship Award: Leyla Blackwell for her exemplary conduct
- Nothing Like It: 2025 Signing Class
- Head Coach John Cook has announced the signing of five top-tier recruits set for the 2025 season:
- Campbell Flynn: A top-flight setter and the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
- Ryan Hunter: A strong opposite hitter.
- Keri Leimbach: An excellent libero from Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Manaia Ogbechie: A high-ceilinged middle blocker from California.
- Teraya Sigler: Vibrant outside hitter out of Arizona.
This class embodies Nebraska’s philosophy of maintaining excellence through a balance of veterans and youth.
Former Assistant Coach Becomes Team USA Member
To be associated with something as historic as the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team is indescribable,” said Virtue, who served in the campus assistant coaching role at Nebraska prior to taking head coaching positions in the NCAA. Virtue’s hiring is a point of pride for the Huskers’ community, as her success is in line with the strong coaching pipeline that’s part of Nebraska volleyball.
On the court: Record-Breaking Performances
Nebraska players keep breaking records, proving successful on the national stage:
Lexi Rodriguez: Rodriguez is not only a three-time Big Ten Libero of the Year, but she also owns the second-most career digs all-time at Nebraska.
Bergen Reilly: Ranks first in assists in the Big Ten and has been a central cog in Nebraska’s offensive execution.
The Future: A Continuing Legacy Husker Volleyball
As the 2024 season comes to an end, Nebraska volleyball is still a national contender. With a mix of grizzled veterans and up-and-coming talent, the team is set to thrive going forward. With John Cook at the helm, the Huskers are set to remain a hallmark of collegiate volleyball.
Fans eagerly await Nebraska’s next moves will play out next March, and beyond, but even with so much unknown about next season, there are a number of new recruits to be excited about already. With a steadfast commitment to excellence on and off the volleyball court, Cornhuskers are sure to leave a lasting legacy as one of the most dominant volleyball programs of all time.